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This holiday showcases two regions of Patagonia where independent self-drive opens up amazing landscapes for you to explore at your leisure and preferred speed. You have freedom as soon as you get behind the wheel but also the security of knowing your accommodation is booked for you at the end of a day on the road.

Discover Argentina’s glorious lake district, a feast of virgin forests and rugged mountains reflected in a necklace of glassy lakes. The highlight is the drive north along the poster-perfect Seven Lakes Route to tranquil San Martin de los Andes. Later, fly south to visit two of Patagonia’s finest national parks: Los Glaciares and Fitz Roy. Besides scenic drives all round, each offers uniquely different experiences once you’ve parked the car.

Holiday itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Buenos Aires. Transfer to hotel close to colonial centre and commercial district of the capital.

Day 2

Walking tour along the Avenida de Mayo.

Day 3

Fly to Bariloche in the lake district. Collect your hire car.

Day 4

Explore the Bariloche area.

Day 5

Self-drive to San Martín de los Andes.

Day 6

Explore the San Martín lakes area.

Day 7

Self-drive to Villa la Angostura.

Day 8

Explore the area independently.

Day 9

Drop off car in Bariloche; fly to Calafate, collect car, self-drive to estancia.

Self-drive Argentina: Patagonia, lake district and Perito Moreno

Buenos Aires

Along with Rio, this is a city worth crossing the Atlantic for in its own right. Dynamic, stylish and nostalgic, it’s the continent’s most European city, but does not lack South American verve. Its contrasting neighbourhoods reveal colonial plazas, shady avenues, quirky antique fairs, street art, world famous theatres and football stadiums and spruced-up metropolitan port districts. Studded with extensive parks, cutting-edge boutique hotels, designer boutiques and a myriad of restaurants, bars and nightclubs, it’s a restless place, challenging to find your way around but well worth the effort. It’s the beating heart of Argentina, the hub for visits throughout the country.

When's the best time to visit Buenos Aires?

Buenos Aires is at its hottest Jan-Mar (very humid with tropical showers, occasionally over 40C during the day). It can be cold and cloudy Jul-Aug, so weather conditions are best for a visit in spring and autumn. Dec-Feb and Jul are local holiday times: Porteños head for the beach.

What's the official language in Buenos Aires?

Spanish.

How do I get local currency in Buenos Aires?

Argentine Peso.

Notes can be withdrawn from the many ATMs using a UK credit or debit card. Limits may be lower than your UK bank allows. Please note that in 2016 many of the ATMs were not functioning properly; we are recommending that for the moment you take a good supply of US dollars cash. There are many banks and money exchanges (casas de cambio) where you can exchange US dollars cash; rates for euros and sterling frequently poor.

What's the time difference between Buenos Aires and the UK?

GMT -3 hours. Sometimes daylight saving is observed in the summer, but this is announced ad hoc on a year-on-year basis.

What places combine well with Buenos Aires?

Beach time in Mar del Plata (392 km by road, 5hrs); Colonia or Montevideo in Uruguay across the River Plate: travel by ferry, bus or plane; a stay on a working estancia in the pampa south and west of the city; Iguazú Falls (2hrs approx by air).

How long is the flight to Buenos Aires from the UK?

Average flight time is 14hrs 20mins on a direct flight from London. There are also flights requiring a change of plane in Europe or the USA.

What are the festivals and cultural and sports events in Buenos Aires?

Argentine lake district

It’s part of Patagonia, but with a touch of Switzerland or Scandinavia. Argentina shares a picture-book-perfect lake district with Chile on the other side of the Andes, linked by one of the continent’s most exquisite passes, the Lakes Crossing. It’s a popular yet unspoilt region of sleeping snow-stifled volcanoes, dark sapphire lakes fringed by dense forests, small Alpine-style towns and scenic drives. Its multitude of national parks offer outdoor activities from hiking to fishing and cycling to horse riding. There’s a European-style cuisine of fondues, creamy cakes and cool blond Bavarian-inspired beers.

When's the best time to visit the lake district of Argentina?

The main towns of the lake district are full of visitors in the summer months Dec-Feb, when the weather is at its best. Mar-Apr and Sep-Nov can be lovely seasons with rich autumn colours and blossoms respectively, and the towns and hotels won’t be bursting at the seams. Winter (Jul-Aug) is the ski season.

What's the official language in the lake district of Argentina?

Spanish.

How do I get local currency in the lake district of Argentina?

Argentine Peso. Notes can be withdrawn from the many ATMs along calle Mitre in Bariloche and calle San Martín in the town of San Martín, using a UK credit or debit card. Limits may be lower than your UK bank allows.

What's the time difference between the lake district of Argentina and the UK?

GMT -3 hours. Sometimes daylight saving is observed in the summer, but this is announced ad hoc on a year-on-year basis.

What other places combine well with the lake district of Argentina?

Chile’s lake district, a full day trip by boat and road across the Andes;Mendoza in the wine producing region, twice weekly flights (1hr 45mins;El Calafate and Ushuaia in southern Patagonia, sporadic service in summer only (1hr 40mins) or via Buenos Aires.

How do I get to the lake district of Argentina?

There are many daily flights from Buenos Aires to Bariloche (2hrs 10mins) and 3 flights a week from the capital to San Martín (2hrs 20mins).

Back to list of places visited

El Chalten and the Fitz Roy Massif

The vast ice fields in Los Glaciares National Park, southern Patagonia, are a primeval wilderness from which flow 13 huge glaciers into the waters of lakes Viedma and Argentino. The dark beech forests, gem-clear lagoons and the lonely steppes skirting the ice-capped towers of the Fitz Roy massif in the northern area of the park add to the beauty of this ideal landscape for hikers. El Chaltén is a small purpose-built town with tourist facilities and the principal base for visits to the area.

When's the best time to visit El Chalten and the Fitz Roy Massif?

The best months for hiking are Mar-Apr, when autumn foliage is stunning. Many hikers also visit in summer – Dec-Jan - along with non-trekkers so it can be very busy at that time. Days are long and mild then but it can be windy, as in spring (Sep-Oct). In the winter months Jun-Aug it is very cold and access routes can be blocked by snow, and facilities closed.

El Calafate and Los Glaciares National Park

The vast ice fields in Los Glaciares National Park, southern Patagonia, are a primeval wilderness from which flow 13 huge glaciers into the waters of lakes Viedma and Argentino. Visitors can only see a small part of it, from bases which are surprisingly accessible, but get a real sense of the remoteness of this unpopulated region. The emerald beech forest and the wind-strafed steppes framing the ice add to the landscape’s beauty. El Calafate is a small lakeside town with tourist facilities which still has a frontier feel. It’s the base for visits to the Perito Moreno, Upsala and Onelli glaciers.

When's the best time to visit El Calafate and Los Glaciares National Park?

Weather-wise it’s best to visit in the summer (Dec-Feb) when days are long and mild, but at this time – especially Jan – the area is very crowded with both Argentine and foreign visitors. Mar/Apr or Sep/Oct can be sunny and clear, but it can be windy. In the winter months Jun-Aug it is very cold and access routes can be blocked by snow. Many facilities are closed then, too.

What's the official language in El Calafate?

Spanish.

How do I get local currency in El Calafate?

Argentine Peso. There are a couple of banks with ATMs accepting foreign cards. Limits may be lower than your UK bank allows. There are also some money exchanges (casas de cambio) where you can exchange US dollars cash but rates are not good; you may be better off changing money in Buenos Aires or another large city before heading to El Calafate.

What's the time difference between El Calafate and the UK?

GMT -3 hours. Sometimes daylight saving is observed in the summer, but this is announced ad hoc on a year-on-year basis.

What places does El Calafate and Los Glaciares National Park combine with?

Things to do on this holiday

Seven lakes self-drive

Day hikes around El Chalten

Visit the Perito Moreno glacier

City tour of Buenos Aires

This stunning route links two of the lake district’s most scenic areas, the National Parks of Lanin and Nahuel Huapi. It’s a pristine hinterland of forest-fringed lakes framed by the soaring Andes – the very essence of the great outdoors.

We organise your car hire and accommodation but self-driving in Argentina becomes your own adventure the moment you get behind the wheel: pause to admire the views wherever the mood takes you, and enjoy unrivalled access to secluded beauty spots other visitors seldom reach.

You’ll pick up your car in lakeside Bariloche, a distinctly alpine town overlooked by snowy peaks. From here the road winds past glassy blue lakes and ancient forests to arrive in the picturesque mountain village of Villa La Angostura before slicing through remote wilderness and reaching pretty San Martín de Los Andes.

With an array of shorter routes to choose from and an abundance of jaw-dropping scenery, Los Glaciares is ideal for day trekking. The main sights are all nestled within a compact area, so you can really get up amongst them without ever needing to camp or carry heavy supplies.

The centrepiece of this wintry dominion is photogenic Mount Fitz Roy. Jutting above glacial lakes and ice fields, its crown of sheer peaks thrusting out of the mountainside makes for breathtaking views from all over the park.

One of our favourite treks is to Laguna de Los Tres, which offers up the park’s most classic postcard vista. The 8-hour hike follows a glistening river up through primeval beech forests before climbing to the turquoise lake, spectacularly reflecting the dramatic mountain range of Fitz Roy.

We also love the Laguna Torre trek, a relatively undemanding 6-hour walk straight from El Chaltén into a landscape pitted with glaciers, where you’ll be dwarfed by icebergs and sharp granite peaks.

Draped between Patagonian peaks and rising 60m from an ice-bound arm of Lago Argentino, Perito Moreno is an awe-inspiring sight. It is one of the few glaciers still advancing, and covers an area so vast that the eye struggles to take it all in.

It’s common to see massive hunks of ice calve break off from the glacier and crash into the lake below, forming vivid blue icebergs. You can witness the spectacular show from the walkways and viewing platforms that offer panoramic views of the glacier’s southern flank.

You could also take an hour-long cruise beneath the towering glacier will take you almost within touching distance of its sapphire pinnacles.

A guided tour of the giant multi-faceted city can be undertaken by car, on foot or by bike.

If you begin your explorations with a walking tour, you’ll learn your way around at the same time as covering many of the key sights. A stroll along the shaded pavements of chic, sophisticated Buenos Aires is a joy for any city lover.

Buenos Aires’ central districts reveal the city’s distinguishing divide: while some areas feel very European. The Italianate Teatro Colón is a highlight, some tours take you inside to tour its lavish interior.

The San Telmo quarter is the city’s oldest neighbourhood and arguably its most atmospheric. Cobbled streets lined with balconied façades spill over with bric-a-brac shops, tango parlours and pavement cafes, and tango dancers pound the pavements of the Plaza Dorrego.

In contrast, the well-heeled neighbourhood of Recoleta encapsulates the city’s European elegance. Walk along its wide boulevards, lined with mansions and parks, before visiting the Recoleta Cemetery where elaborate mausoleums house the remains of Argentina’s great and good.

Complementing this picture, the bustling district of Retiro contains a number of historic buildings and palaces, and in nearby Plaza de Mayo you will visit the famous Casa Rosada from whose balcony Evita once addressed the nation.

Accommodation on this holiday

Kenton Palace

La Casa de Eugenia

Hotel Cacique Inacayal

Hotel Correntoso

Estancia La Quinta

Estancia Nibepo Aike

This modern property boasts stylishly eclectic décor and personalised service. Kenton Palace's 80 rooms and public areas are light and uncluttered, with furnishings conveying a contemporary urban feel. Guestrooms have city or courtyard views and are equipped with super-sleek bathrooms with freestanding bathtubs and rain showers.

One of the hotel’s greatest assets is its location: slap bang in the centre of town, a stroll away from the main sights, restaurants and bars. Radiating outwards from the vicinity of the hotel are a broad array of attractive and lively areas, such as the Plaza de Mayo, the bohemian San Telmo district, the new port development at Puerto Madero and the boutiques and eateries of Recoleta.

Hotel amenities include an impressive range of facilities for children. It also has a spa, with spotless heated pool, Jacuzzi, gym, sauna and massage services.

Close to the town of San Martín de los Andes, the family-home-turned-guesthouse La Casa de Eugenia has a peaceful rural location on the edge of a lake backed by forests. With its home-from-home feel and local hospitality, it's an inviting place to return to after an invigorating day in the outdoors.

Reflecting its residential past, each of the nine rooms in the wooden house is of a different size and shape. They are also individually decorated, each dominated by one colour from a palette reflecting the changing seasons of Patagonia, from leaf green to burnt orange and icy blue. The décor calls to mind a simple, uncluttered country house, featuring wrought iron bedsteads and French windows. Superior suites have a view over the orchard and pool in the tranquil grounds, where neat lawns are dotted with sun-loungers.

The lakeside Hotel Cacique Inacayal, a mix of classic design and smart modern style, makes the most of its spectacular location with an abundance of scenic viewpoints, both in and out of doors. All guestrooms have lake views, and wall-to-wall windows offer up enticing panoramas from the restaurant, lounge, wine bar and indoor swimming pool – even the gym enjoys a breathtaking vista. There's also a very attractive outdoor deck where you can unwind with a drink or snack as you look out over the shimmering sapphire waters of Nahuel Huapi and onwards to its crown of snow-flecked peaks.

Larger than it appears from the outside, the hotel has eight mezzanine-style floors, over which the neutrally furnished guestrooms are distributed. Each has a Jacuzzi tub. The hotel is just a 10-minute walk from the town centre but has the advantages of a quieter and more natural location; it even has a small private beach.

The welcoming Hotel Correntoso is 4km from Villa Angostura, and about an hour's drive from Bariloche airport. It is set in the foothills of the Andes, at the mouth of the Correntoso River where it enters Lake Nahuel Huapi. The property, founded in1917, has plenty of history. At that time the only way to access this remote corner of Patagonia was by boat or hydroplane, and the hotel blossomed from a small wooden cabin. Some of the beams and wooden frame-work of the old building have been preserved and combined with modern comforts. Nowadays, it is included in the Small Luxury Hotels of the World portfolio.

All 27 rooms are slightly different some with a small terrace, others a large window cushion area, and 4th floor rooms have Juliet balcony. There is a splendid living room with beautiful panoramic views, and a library mainly dedicated to Patagonia. There is also a Gourmet Restaurant and wine bar fuses Mediterranean and Patagonian cuisine created with local game and produce, while Puerto Correntoso serves more casual fare on a deck overlooking the lake. At tea time a variety of home made pastries, chocolates and special tea blends are offered.

The comely spa takes advantage of some truly magnificent views across the lake to the mountains beyond.

Modelling itself on an estancia, this hotel is nevertheless surprisingly businesslike with a wide range of facilities and neat, spotless interiors. It is located a little way out of town, within Los Glaciares National Park, which gives it a calm and secluded atmosphere and allows you immediate access to the extraordinary wilderness right on your doorstep.

Set within gardens below rugged hills which frame an iconic view of the Fitz Roy massif, Estancia La Quinta is a great base for hiking. Décor is on the old-fashioned side, but rooms are comfortable and La Quinta makes for a quirkier and more typically Patagonian alternative to the conventional hotels in town. Its owners take care to ensure you have a memorable stay.

This sweet and charming hideaway is set on a working ranch, the only one within Los Glaciares National Park to accept guests. There are just five simple but cosy and well-appointed rooms, furnished with local textiles. All around, cattle and sheep roam grounds abuzz with an unalloyed sense of everyday Patagonian life, in which you are warmly invited to take part in during your stay.

The main building of Estancia Nibepo Aike is clad in corrugated iron in the typical local style, is fringed with colourful blooms. Inside, an open fire and country-cottage florals lend the cosy lounge a homely ambience. Meals are served either in the welcoming dining room or in the quincho, a traditional outdoor barbeque area where regular meat feasts take place.

As you would expect from its spectacular location beside Lake Roca (an hour’s drive from El Calafate), the estancia is superbly situated for trekking and shorter scenic walks. Other activities include participating in farming activities, watching the gauchos herd cattle and shear sheep, or heading out into the idyllic surrounds on horseback.

Speak to an expert Travel Consultant or send us your enquiry today.

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Self-drive Argentina: Patagonia, lake district and Perito Moreno

16 days from £2,972pp

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Our specialists have been expertly crafting award-winning tailor-made holidays to Latin America for over 37 years.

We would be delighted to create a truly personalised trip which perfectly matches your wishes and requirements.